Methods and devices for passive residual lung volume reduction and functional lung volume expansion

Abstract

The volume of a hyperinflated lung compartment is reduced by sealing a distal end of the catheter in an airway feeding the lung compartment. Air passes out of the lung compartment through a passage in the catheter while the patient exhales. A one-way flow element associated with the catheter prevents air from re-entering the lung compartment as the patient inhales. Over time, the pressure of regions surrounding the lung compartment cause it to collapse as the volume of air diminishes. Residual volume reduction effectively results in functional lung volume expansion. Optionally, the lung compartment may be sealed in order to permanently prevent air from re-entering the lung compartment. The invention further discloses a catheter with a transparent occlusion element at its tip that enables examination of the lung passageway through a viewing scope.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of manufacturing a catheter for passive deflation of an isolated lung region without the need to implant a one-way valve structure in the lung, the method of manufacturing comprising: providing a catheter with a proximal end, a distal end and at least one lumen there between; providing a one-way flow element within the at least one lumen, the one-way flow element configured to inhibits flow through the lumen in a proximal-to-distal direction such that air cannot enter an isolated part of a lung during inhalation; providing an occluding member with a first end and a second end; attaching the first end of the occluding member to the inner surface of the lumen at the distal end of the catheter; and inverting the occluding member and attaching the second end of the occluding member to an outer portion of the catheter proximal to the distal end. 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing a hub coupled to the proximal end. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the hub comprises a hub one-way flow element. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the hub one-way flow element comprises a flap valve. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , further comprising providing an inflation lumen extending along the catheter, wherein the expandable occluding element is inflatable. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , further comprising providing an inflation port. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the inflation port coupled to the inflation lumen and extends through the outer portion of the catheter proximal to the distal end. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the expandable occluding member and a portion of the distal end of the catheter proximal between the first end and the second end of the expandable occluding member defines an inflatable volume. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the inflation port fluidly couples the inflatable volume to the inflation lumen. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the occluding member is transparent. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the shape and material of the transparent occluding member are configured such that the transparent occluding member forms a wide angle lens. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the occluding member is thermally bonded to the catheter. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first end of the occluding member is attached circumferentially to the inner surface of the lumen at the distal end of the catheter, and wherein the second end of the occluding member is attached circumferentially to the outer portion of the catheter proximal to the distal end. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one-way flow element comprises a duck-bill valve. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing the one-way flow element within the at least one lumen comprises providing a plurality of one-way flow elements within the at least one lumen. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one-way flow element comprises an actively controlled one-way flow control assembly. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one-way flow element comprises a passively controlled one-way flow control element. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the expandable occluding element is transparent.